Big-time boxing is well and truly back this weekend with a Matchroom double-header on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

Super-middleweight sensation Diego Pacheco will be looking to put himself in contention for a mouthwatering clash with Canelo Alvarez when he faces Steven Nelson in Vegas. Meanwhile, super-lightweight Dalton Smith will be hoping to take one step closer to a world title shot of his own when he faces Walid Ouizza in Nottingham, and that is where we will start.

An outstanding amateur, Sheffield’s Dalton Smith has been faultless in his 16-fight professional career so far.

With 16 straight wins, including 12 stoppages, he picked up the best win of his career last time out, quite literally folding former world title challenger Jose Zepeda with a perfectly executed bolo shot to the solar plexus.

He was scheduled to fight for this title in September against Jon Fernandez; however, the fight was called off following an injury to Smith.

Ranked #2 by the WBC, Smith could well earn himself a shot at the winner of Albert Puello and Sandor Martin for the world title if he gets past the Frenchman Ouizza.

A much lesser-known fighter compared to Smith, Ouizza claimed the European title two years ago when he became the first man to beat Spaniard Alejandro Moya.

Despite winning both of his fights since then, he has been extremely inactive, with those two fights coming over the space of nearly two years.

This is a tough test for Smith, but it is more than likely a step down in opposition from his previous fight against Zepeda. Expect him to deal with Ouizza relatively comfortably and hopefully book himself a shot at the WBC World Title.

On the undercard, two undefeated fighters go head-to-head in a world title unification as the 9-0 Ellie Scotney takes on the 20-0 Mea Motu for the IBF, WBO & Ring Magazine Super-Bantamweight World Titles.

The co-main is a good old-fashioned ‘pick ’em’ fight between two men looking to push on to world level in 2025, as Harry Scarff defends his British & Commonwealth Welterweight Titles against the game and durable Conah Walker.

Over to the States now, and what a card we have in store here.

Undoubtedly one of the biggest prospects—and yes, you can still call him that because he is still only 23—in world boxing, 6’4” Diego Pacheco takes on the exciting 20-0 Steven Nelson in what promises to be a potential Fight of the Year candidate.

After turning professional at the age of just 17, Pacheco has powered his way through the 168lb division with 22 wins from 22 fights, with 18 of those coming by way of stoppage.

His most notable win to date came in his last fight against Maciej Sulecki when he became the first man to stop the Pole—not a bad feat considering Sulecki’s only career defeats prior to that loss had come against Demetrius Andrade and Daniel Jacobs.

Similarly to Smith, Pacheco is highly ranked at world level, with the WBO positioning him at #1, the WBC at #4, and the IBF at #6. He is in a prime spot for a crack at at least one of Canelo’s world titles over the coming 12 months.

Meanwhile, Nelson—a long-term stablemate and friend of the great Terence Crawford—has flown under the radar massively over the years.

He turned professional late, at the age of 27, and has fought just three times in nearly four years.

Much the smaller man, Nelson will need to target Pacheco’s body early on if he is to have any success in this fight.

Pacheco will understandably look to keep it long, but this is a young man who isn’t afraid to mix it on the inside either. If Nelson can lure him into a slugfest or a shootout, then grab your popcorn.

It’s not just the main event where people’s eyes will be fixated. On the undercard, Olympic gold medalist and one of the greatest amateur boxers of all time, Andy Cruz, will be aiming to move to 5-0 and take one step closer to a world title shot when he faces the tough Mexican Omar Salcido.

Also on the undercard is the hard-hitting Ernesto Mercado. With an unbeaten 16-fight record so far in his pro career, including 15 stoppages, he will be hoping to continue his near-perfect run against former world champ Jose Pedraza.

Two solid cards with two solid main events and two solid undercards—we’re well and truly in for a Matchroom treat on Saturday night.